Kerry extends US-Afghan security deal deadline

Johannesburg – United States Secretary John Kerry has apparently extended the deadline for the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with Afghanistan by saying that it could even be signed by President Hamid Karzai’s successor, who will be chosen in April elections.

Although Kerry stressed that the deal governing the presence of US troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014 must be signed as soon as possible, he said the pact did not have to be concluded by January, News24 reports.

Washington wants the deal to be finalized to ensure the security of its troops, which might stay back for training purposes in Afghanistan as the international forces prepare to leave the nation in late 2014.